La Cocina de Tita Moning

Right after my walking tour, I was chauffeured to La Cocina for lunch!

I don't know why, but I was the ONLY guest for lunch today.

And it feels kinda weird when all the staff are standing there ready to serve you. Maybe this is how it feels like to be an aristocrat? So before lunch was served, I was given a short tour around the mansion.

The interior is beautiful and the food is really good but - this lunch costed me an arm and a leg and instead of taking the taxi, I took the bus home! Haha.

Upon arrival, I was treated to some bread and chilled Lemongrass Juice.

See, I took a bite before taking the photos :) it was very delicious.

The family room where I was seated before lunch was served.

The stairways, there are 3 levels to this house but the 3rd level is off limits to guests.

This is called the Ballerina Room because two of the Legarda daughters are ballerinas and here they showcase all their belongings.

It's probably the Spanish's influence? Or the American's? Everywhere that I've been to and like are usually furnished with all sorts of chandelier and I have to confess, I love them, they're so shinny and pretty and I really love the interior of this place. However, the Legardas no longer live in this house, instead, the servants do now.

The main dinning hall, there are a few dining rooms to chose from depending on the amount of pax per table, and those blue china on the walls? Each of them is uniquely hand painted and lined with gold. No servants are allowed to touch them and they have to be washed by the Legarda children themselves.

And lunch is ready - table for one. :)

There was a note left on the table explaining the histories of the China plate that I was using, also, they encourage patrons to use this bell whenever the needs arrises. Of course I don't need to, all of them were watching me while I eat! They even know what I wanted or secretly desired (like how I wanted more side dish of spinach and brown rice to go with the main but was too shy to ask for more because I don't want to waste any food).

I was really struggling with lunch, not because it doesn't tastes nice but because it was very rich and filling as how locals would describe Filipino food - comfort food. But of course what I ordered wasn't purely local, they're infused with Spanish influences.

My onion soup - I wanted something not creamy so that I can eat dessert, but they put bread crumbs and cheese in the soup and made it very filling but it is undoubted, the best onion soup I've ever had, comforting indeed.

Fresh Papaya Salad with Jamon Serrano, Fresh Carabao or Mozarella

Cheese, Basil from La Cocina Herbs Garden and a Honey Calamansi Vinaigrette.

La Cocina famous slowly roasted Pork with its own cracklings candied sweet camote and organic brown rice. I felt like I've gone back to Medieval times eating out from China and steel plate.

Now, this dessert is really something - Banana in Mille Fille drenched in Rasberry Chocolate sauce. I couldn't finish it because it was really sweet but I was glad to have ordered it.

Their own Herbs Garden.

Verdict - it was the most romantic lunch I've ever had even though I was all alone. Can you imagine if you were there with your significant other? Sigh...such romantic I am.